Selection of Potential Potato Cultivars With Export Quality Through Multitrait Genotype‐Ideotype Distance Index ( <scp>MGIDI</scp> )

Potato is a strategic crop that contributes significantly to food security due to its short growing period and high yield per unit area. Genotype selection based on multiple traits is important for identifying superior germplasm. The goal of this study was to identify promising potato genotypes with export potential to enhance potato exports from Bangladesh. This study was conducted across four agroecological zones in Bangladesh during 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 to identify high-quality potato varieties suitable for export using the multitrait genotype-ideotype distance index (MGIDI). Thirty potato varieties released by the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) were evaluated for traits such as plant height, stem number per hill, tuber weight per hill, tuber yield, dry matter, tuber grading, storability, and disease incidence. MGIDI analysis identified six superior genotypes viz., BARI Alu-7, BARI Alu-40, BARI Alu-46, BARI Alu-97, BARI Alu-62, and BARI Alu-37 considering a selection intensity of 20%. These genotypes demonstrated strong performance, revealing both their strengths and weaknesses in relation to the identified factors. Considering export features, BARI Alu-62 and BARI Alu-97 were considered the best among those six varieties for producing export quality potato. This research reveals the complex relationship between potato traits, showing how multitrait genotype selection can guide breeding strategies. Enhancing these traits can boost Bangladesh's potato exports, benefiting the economy and society.